Tractor corn picker



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Aug- 20, 1935 B. R. BENJAMIN 2,011,925

TRAGTOR CORN PICKER Filed June 21, 195o sheets-sheet 1 Aug;-20, 1935. B.R. BENJAMIN TRACTOR CORN PICKER Filed June 21,' 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 211;.; 20, l935. f B R BENJAMlN 2,011,925

TRACTOR CORN FICKER Filed June 2l. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 no.Y w

Patented Aug. 20, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACTOR CORN PICKERBert R. Benjamin, Oak Park, Ill., assignmto International HarvesterCompany, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 21,l 1930, SerialNo. 162,894

14 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to a self propelled corn picker. Moreparticularly it relates to a two-row com picker organization adapted tobe mounted on and operated by a tractor.

The principal' object of the invention is to provide an improved tractormounted corn picker.

Another object is to provide a corn picker organization suitable formounting on the so'called tricycle type of tractor having a wide treadrear axle and traction wheels adapted to travel outside adjacent rows ofsuch crops as corn, cotton, etc.

Another object is to provide a two row tractor corny picker constructedin such a manner that two adjacent rows of corn may be pickedsimultaneously without any part of the machine extending laterally asuiiicient distance to'break down or run over the rows of corn adjacentto those being picked.

Another .object is to pivotally mount the picker units on the tractorfor adjustment of the for- Ward` stalk gathering portions of said units.

Another object is to provide a simplified driving mechanism operatedfrom the tractor power take-off for the picker units and for anvelevator y mounted behind the tractor.

Other objects will be apparent from the detailed description to follow.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation,l partially in section, of a tractormountedcorn picker illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail showing the central divider and stalkgathering means;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail showing the driving' means for the pickerunits;` and,

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on thefline `mounted on a steeringpost 3, which extends upwardly through a front frame member 4 on whichthe tractor is supported. At the top of the steering post a gear sector5 is rigidly attached to the steering post.3. By means of a steering rod6 extending rearwardly over the top of the tractor to the operators seatand a train of gears 'I engagingthe sector 5, the tractor is steered.

Side frame members 8 are attached at their forward ends to the frontframe member 4 and to a transversely extended axle and differentialhousing 9. At the ends of the housing 9, opposite depending housings I0contain gears for driv- I ing a stub axle, not shown, on which the rearwheels I are mounted. The housings 9 and I0 constitute an elevated orarched rear axle structure. These parts are not described more indetail, as they are of known construction and do not form a part of thisinvention except as they enterinto the general organization claimed.

A U-shaped frame member Il yextends rearwardly of the tractor and isattached to the housings l0 below the axis of the traction wheels andsupporting links I2 connect the longitudinal portions of the member IIto points on the housings iI) above the points where the member II islattached thereto. The links I2 support the frame member IIinvhorizontal position and permit the mounting of structures havingconsiderable weight thereon.

A shaft I3 mounted on brackets It rigidly attached to the side framemembers 8 provides a support for the corn picking units, which aremounted at either side of the tractorv on the projecting ends of theshaft I3. Bearing brackets I5 are pivotally mounted on the'shaft I3 forcarrying the picker unit.

The frame structure of the picker unit is not shown, as it consistsofl'a series of angle bars rigidly secured together -in a conventionalmanner. On said frame'str'ucture the various elements ofA the pickerunits are mounted in a conventional manner. The general construction ofsuch devices being well known in the art, it is considered that adiagrammatic representation of the essentialelements of the picker unitsare sufficient for the purpose of this application. The bearing bracketsI5 are 4secured to the frame structure and form a pivotal support forsaid units with respectto the tractor.

An adjustable link I6 is attached to the picker unit above its pivotaxis and to a lever I'I. The lever II is pivoted on the end of arockshaft I8, best shown in Figure 2. A quadrant I9 is rigidly securedto the rockshaft I8. An angular extension 20 integral With the lever I'Iis provided with a detent latch for engaging notches on the quadrant I9.'I'he rockshaft I8 is rotatably mounted in brackets 2| rigidly securedto the frame member II.

. extending gathering arm 26.

. of the tractor.

2 soupes At the end of the rockshaft I8 opposite, the quadrant I9 alever not shown in the drawing similar'to the lever I1, is rigidlyattached. A link 23 connects the end o f said lever to the picker unitat that side of the tractor. A quadrant 24 is rigidly secured withrespect to the bracket 20. A hand lever 25 rigidly secured to the end ofthe rockshaft I8 is provided with a detent latch for engaging notches onthe quadrant 24. y

Each picker'unit is vprovided with a forwardly These gathering arms arepreferably mounted resiliently with respect to the main picker unit forpermitting the gathering arms to follow the ground closely withoutdigging into the soil. Gathering edges, represented by the dotted lines21, are of a conventional construction. Thesnapping rolls 28 and the earconveyor 29 extending alongsidel the snapping rolls may also 4be of anyconventional construction. The conveyor extends upwardly to the top ofthe picking unit, which is vertically above the rear wheel of thetractor. A series of rolls 29a geared together for driving formmeans forconveying the snapped ears rearwardly to the discharge chute 30, whichldepends downwardly from the rearward end of the picking unit. I'hedelivery chute 30 of each picking unit discharges into a hopper 3| andthe hoppers 3| are extended centrally downward to deliver into anelevator housing 32 integral therewith. The housings forming the hoppers3I and elevator 32 are suitably secured on the rear portion of rthemember I I. A drag link conveyor 33 in the elevator housing providesmeans for elevating the corn rearwardly upward to Vany suitable loadcarrying means which may be pulled behind the tractor.

'I'he power for driving the picker mechanisms ls obtained from a powertake-off shaft 34 extending rearwardly from a gear casing 35 mountedbeneath the main gear transmission housing A gear housing 36 is mountedat the rear of the axle housing 9. Figure 4 shows a removable plate 31,which is attached to the rear of the housing 9. The housing 36 extendsdownwardly beneath the main housing 9 and a shaft 38 extending throughthe housing and supported in suitable bearings therein is positioned inalignment with' the power take-oil' shaft 34. The power take-off shaftis polygonal in cross section, and the shaft 38 is provided with a boreto slidably engage said shaft. 'I'he shaft 38 extends rearwardly throughthe housing 36 and is connectedby universal joints and a yshaft 39 to a.shaft40. The shaft 46 is mounted in a bearing bracket 4I, which isrigidly secured with re' spect to the elevator housing 32. A shaft 42extending upwardly substantially parallel to the elevator housing isalso journaled in a bearing on the bracket 4I. A bevel gear 43 mountedon the shaft 40 is adapted to engage and drives. bevel gear 44 mountedon the shaft 42.

The gear housing 36 has two upwardly and downwardly directedextensions'45. These extensions contain bearings for shafts 46. As bestshown in Figure 5, the shafts 46 carry bevel gears .41, which areadapted to engage a bevel gear 48 carried on the shaft 36. Shafts 49connected by universal joints to the shafts 46 are provided with boresrectangular in cross section for slidably engaging shafts 56 having across section the same as the bores. Each of the shafts 58 is connectedby a universal joint to a shaft I. 'Ihe shaft 5I is mounted in a bearingcarried by a housing 52. A shaft 53 also extends through suitablebearings in the housing 52 at an acute angle thereto. A bevel Igear 54carried by the shaft 5I is adapted to 'engage and drive a bevel gear -55mounted on the shaft 53. At the forward end; each of the shafts 53 isconnected by universal joints and a shaft 56 to a shaft 51. The shaft 51is mounted for rotation on the picker unit. A gear 58 mounted on theshaft 51 by means of a chain 59 and suitable chain sprockets drive thegathering chains, the snapping rolls, and the ear conveyor. These drivesare of a conventional construction and are, therefore, not described indetail, as their operation is clearly shown by inspection of thedrawings. At the rear end each of the shafts 53 extends to providedriving means for the rollers 29.

'I'he divider and stalk lifting -unit at the front of the tractorconsists primarily of a substantially semi-cylindrical upper shield 69and a lower outwardly sloping shield 6I. These two'shields are connectedtogether and the lower shield is mounted on a pair of forwardlyextending frame members 62, which converge lat their forward ends. Apoint 63 is provided at the forward end of the members 62. At the rearAends the frame members extend angularly upward and carry -brackets 62,to which links 64 are pivotally connected. The links 64 are alsopivotally connected to brackets 65, which are rigidly mounted on thefront frame member 4 of the tractor frame. A pair of forwardly extendingbars 66 are also plvotally attached to the brackets 65. The bars 66extend downwardly and converge together. A member 61 is clamped betweenthe forward ends of the bars 66 and forms with the ends of said bars atrack which engages a roller 68. The forward end of the member 61 isturned upwardly to prevent the roller from running over the end.

The roller 68 is rotatably mounted on a support 69 which is attached tothe frame members 62. Tension springs 10 are attached to the brackets 65at points spaced above the points of attachment of the bars 66. Thesprings 10 are also attached to small brackets 1', which are secured tothe bars 66. A plurality of spaced holes 12 are provided in the bars 66providing means for connecting the brackets 1I in a Iplurality ofpositions, thereby altering the tension of the springs 18.

At the top of the upper shield 60 rods 13 are attached. The rods 13extend rearwardly to levers 14 on the tractor, which provide means, notshown, for raising the divider above the ground.

In the operation of the embodiment of this invention illustrated, thetractor is driven withv the front wheels between two adjacent rows ofcorn, the rear wheels operating outside of said rows. The divider islowered so that is rests substantially on the ground. The tension of thesprings 10 holds the divider resiliently in position. When i the point'63 encounters a raised portion on the ground, the divider tiltsupwardly, allowing it to clear such obstructions. The roller 68 operateson the track formed by the member 61 and the forward ends of the bars66. Any down stalks are lifted by the divider and rest in asubstantially upright position. The `rods 63Il resiliently push thestalks outwardly into the path of the gathering chains 21 and thesnapping rolls 28. The gathering arms 26 carried by the picker unitshave the same function as the divider at the forward end of the tractor.Corn snapped by the rolls 28 is carried upwardly by the conveyors 29 andis delivered through the chutesinto the yhoppers 3|. 'Ihe conveyo 33 inthe elevator asl housing delivers the corn into a wagon pulled behindthe tractor. The means for supplying power to the picker units and tothe elevator is fully explained in the detailed description of theelements making up the driving means.

vBy inspection of the drawings it`wi1l he noted that the gathering arms26 are substantially in alignment with the front wheels of the tractor.Due to this arrangement, the wheels act as a gage for the gathering armsand allow the tractor to operate over the comparatively uneven groundlwithout wide variation of the gathering arms with respect to the levelof the ground. However, to take care of various conditions and unevenground', the rocksha-ft I8 at the rear of the tractor and the associatedlevers and links provide means for independently adjusting the positionof the picking units. The hand lever 25 rotates the rocksliaft i8 andthe leversv il and 22 carriad thereby. When the lever 25 is operai/ed,it is, therefore, evident that both picker units are tilted the sameamount. If'it is found desirable to alter the relative angular positionof the two units; this may be done by shifting the hand lever 2d. Byoperating this lever, the relative position of the links 22 andl il isaltered.

Although applicant has illustrated and described a preferred embodimentof his improved device, it is to be understood that he claims as hisinvention all modifications falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A corn harvesting machine comprising a tractor, rear Wheels on saidtractor. adapted to run on the outside of adjacent rows of corn, a frontrolling support for said tractor, said tractor having a narrowlongitudinally and centrally extending body portion, and picking meansmounted at each side of the body portion intermediate the rear wheelsand the front rolling support and positioned to pick corn from saidadjacent rows.

2. A corn harvesting machine comprising a tractor, rear wheels on saidtractor adapted to run on the outside of adjacent rows of corn, a narrowlongitudinally and centrally extending bOdy, a front rolling support forsaid body, picking means mounted on each side of the body intermediatethe rear wheels and said front support, and conveying means positionedat each side of the tractor adapted to receive corn from the pickingmeans and deliver it upwardly over the rear wheels.

3.- A device as set forth in claim 2, in which the front rolling supportis adapted to run between the adjacent rows of corn being picked.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2, in which a shield is mountedforwardly of the front rolling supoprt `l'or lifting corn stalks' anddirectingthem toward the picking means.

5. A corn harvesting machine comprising the combination of a tractorhaving a transversely extended rear axle structure supported on wheelsadapted to run on the outside of adjacent rows of corn, a narrow bodyextending forwardly from the center of the axle structure, a frontrolling support on the body adapted to run between vthe same rows, atransverse support on the body in advance of the rear wheels, pickingmeans pivotally mounted on the ends of said support between the sides ofthe body and the respective rear wheels, said means being operable topick corn from' adjacent rows, and gathering means carried by thepicking means, said gathering means being positioned with the groundengaging ends substantially in transverse alignment with the frontrolling support. f

6. A device as set forth in claim 5in which both picking units areoperated by a power takeoii' connection at the rear of the axlestructure.

7. A device as set forth in claim 5, in which conveyingmeans are mountedon thev picker units for delivering corn rearwardly.

8. A device as set forth in claim 5, in which the picker Aunits are`individually adjustable about their pivots on the transverse support.

9. A device as set forth in claim 5, in which a divider for divertingstalks to the respective picker units is positioned forwardly of thefront rolling support.

10. A device as set forth in claim 5, in which an elevator is mounted onthe rear of the tractor and means are provided for conveying corn fromthe picker units to said elevator.

11. A corn harvesting machine comprising a tractor, rear wheels on saidtractor adapted to run on the outside of adjacent rows of corn, a frontrolling support for said tractor, said tractor having a narrowlcngitudinally and centrally extending body portion, and picking meansmounted at one side of the tractor intermediate the rear wheels and thefront rolling support for gather-` ing corn from the row at that side ofthe tractor.

12. A device as set forth in claim 11, in which the front'rollingsupport is adapted to run between the adjacent rows.

13. A corn harvesting machine comprising the combination of a tractorhaving a transversely extended rear axle structure supported on wheelsadapted to run on the outside of adjacent rows of corn, a narrow bodyextending forwardly from the center of the axle structure, av frontrolling support on the body adapted to run between the adjacent rows, alaterally extending support on the body in advance of the rear wheels, apicking unit pivotally mounted at one side of the tractor

